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Biomedical subjects

D DeSantis

Publications and source records attributed to D DeSantis.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors and HLA act both independently and synergistically to modify HIV disease progression.

Variation in the host response to infection by pathogens including HIV-1 may be conferred by polymorphic genetic factors such as HLA and killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genes. Here, we examined KIR and HLA genotype effects on pretreatment viral load, rate of CD4(+) T-cell decline and progression to AIDS among adult HIV-1-infected patients within the Western Australian HIV Study Cohort. In this study, carriage of KIR genes within the 'B' haplotype (eg KIR2DS2) was specifically associated with a more rapid CD4(+) T-cell decline over time and progression to AIDS. In contrast, KIR gene repertoire had no effect on pretreatment viral load while selected HLA alleles (eg HLA-B*5701, HLA-B*2705) demonstrated significant protective effects on viremia. Furthermore, interactions between specific HLA and KIR genes did appear to influence HIV disease progression. The results suggest that host genetic variation within the HLA and KIR gene complexes have clinically relevant effects on the course of HIV-1/AIDS, acting independently as well as synergistically to modify disease progression at multiple levels.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

A flow sheet for follow-up after chemotherapy extravasation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To introduce and describe the development and implementation of a flow sheet used to document patient follow-up after chemotherapy extravasation. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, institutional standards of nursing practice, and the Oncology Nursing Society Cancer Chemotherapy Guidelines. DATA SYNTHESIS: Extravasation is a potentially serious and severe complication of vesicant chemotherapy administration. A tool was designed to streamline documentation of patient symptoms, nursing interventions, patient education, and follow-up care after a suspected or actual extravasation. CONCLUSIONS: The flow sheet improves nursing documentation after a suspected or actual vesicant chemotherapy extravasation and provides a consistent, concise method for monitoring extravasations over time. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The flow sheet standardizes nursing assessment, intervention, patient education, and follow-up care after a suspected or actual chemotherapy extravasation. Use of the flow sheet saves time and improves consistency of nursing documentation.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1989

Enzymic activities of carbohydrate, purine, and pyrimidine metabolism in the Anaeroplasmataceae (class Mollicutes).

Cell-free extracts of two strictly anaerobic mollicutes, Anaeroplasma intermedium 5LA and Asteroleplasma anaerobium 161T, were tested for enzymic activities of intracellular carbohydrate metabolism. Asteroleplasma anaerobium was also tested for enzymes of purine and pyrimidine metabolism. Both organisms had enzymic activities associated with the nonoxidative portion of the pentose phosphate pathway, and with the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway. The 6-phosphofructokinase (PFK) of Asteroleplasma anaerobium was ATP-dependent, whereas the PFK of Anaeroplasma intermedium was PPi-dependent. The two anaerobic mollicutes also differed with respect to the enzymes that converted phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate; Anaeroplasma intermedium had pyruvate kinase activity, but Asteroleplasma anaerobium had pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase activity (PPi-dependent). Both organisms had lactate dehydrogenase activity which was activated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2). Anaeroplasma intermedium had activity for PEP carboxykinase (activated by Fru-1,6-P2), but Asteroleplasma anaerobium did not. PEP carboxytransphosphorylase activity was not detected in either organism. Anaeroplasma intermedium had malate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase activities, but it had no activities for the three other tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes examined; Asteroleplasma anaerobium had malate dehydrogenase activity only. Asteroleplasma anaerobium had enzymic activities for the interconversion of purine nucleobases, (deoxy)ribonucleosides, and (deoxy)ribomononucleotides, including PPi-dependent nucleoside kinase, reported heretofore only in some other mollicutes. Asteroleplasma anaerobium could synthesize dTDP by the thymine salvage pathway if deoxyribose 1-phosphate was provided, and it had dUTPase, ATPase, and dCMP kinase activities. It lacked (deoxy)cytidine deaminase, dCMP deaminase, and deoxycytidine kinase activities.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1978

Multidisciplinary audit of digoxin.

Use review of digoxin as part of a medical care evaluation study in a hospital is described. This drug audit within the hospital's quality assurance program used a multidisciplinary approach. The study was designed to measure the incidence of digoxin toxicity, evaluate monitoring practices for digoxin use and evaluate the adequacy of digoxin dosing patterns. Forty-eight patients were involved. Results indicated that some patients were not adequately assessed in regard to renal function and digoxin serum level. Further, there was a 17% incidence of digoxin toxicity. Studies such as this give pharmacists an opportunity to use their knowledge of proper drug use through a structured hospital program.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term follow-up of Candida endophthalmitis in the premature infant.

In the March 1981 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, Baley, Annable and Kleigman discussed the natural course of Candida endophthalmitis in the premature infant. We now have long-term follow-up on the three surviving infants along with follow-up on an additional eight patients. Though vitrectomy is routinely performed in adults, we recommended that it not be performed in premature infants with systemic candidiasis and associated vitreo-retinal pathology. These 11 infants with candidal endophthalmitis secondary to systemic candidiasis demonstrated minimal residual ocular pathology after having been treated with systemic antifungals alone. Neither vitreous taps nor intravitreal injections should be performed in infants with ocular candidiasis.

Amphotericin B↗